For a Good Cause

Taliesen had cleared his schedule for the morning when he got the call from one Angelo Genovese. This was a deal that he couldn't pass up. A pillar of the community, a police officer of ten years. Someone who was respected and trusted. His heart swelled with the potential for people to finally, actually trust in his deals.

Stepping into the breakfast place with Mitch following swiftly behind, Taliesen looked around briefly, his eyes glinting dangerously. There he was. Sliding into the booth, he took off his hat and glasses and sat them on the edge of the table together.

"Good morning, Mr. Genovese. I don't normally agree to meet like this on such short notice, but if I'm being honest I didn't have any meetings today and you sounded like you were in a moderate hurry."

Ordering a black coffee and plucking a single golden thread from his sleeve, he flicked the offending thing away and settled his gloves together on the table. "You're well aware, but my name is Taliesen Diamanti. I represent Facade here on the island. This is my assistant, Mitch. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Taliesen sat quietly, respectfully as Angelo explained his situation. If he understood the reference his client was making with that line, he didn't show it. A father wewanting to save his daughter's life on the day of her wedding. Sweet enough to be the plot of a movie.

When his coffee was brought out and Mitch's pancakes were ordered, he regarded Angelo again with a slight tilt of his head and a smile that would have been pleasant if it weren't for the rows of sharp, obsessively cleaned teeth.
"Oh, Mazel tov! That's a very sweet thing you want to do for your daughter, Mr. Genovese. I can do that, easy as snapping my fingers. But I think you want to hear how my deals work."

Leaning forward a bit, he held his hands palm up side by side, like the balances of a scale.

"Everything I do requires energy, obviously. It doesn't come directly from me, but from my employers in Facade. The main reason I'm here is that my employers want to diversify their power base to give themselves better footing in the inner machinations of Under the Hill.

But we also don't want to give up raw power in exchange for versatility. To that end, when I make a deal, the client must relinquish something that they value at least as much as the thing they are requesting."

From there Taliesen explained exactly the types of things that he could accept as payment, in descending order of value: emotions, memories, years of servitude to Facade, powers, talents and skills, lifespan. That he didn't deal in souls, because those were worthless in Under the Hill.

"Payment is flexible and completely up front. There are no hidden fees, no interest. There are no refunds, so be certain that you want to make the deal before you go through with it. One deal per customer, for that same reason."

He paused, thinking if there was anything else he needed to note.

"If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask. Now, what are you thinking about offering?"

"Those are some interesting powers you're willing to give up. And I like the poetic beauty in it. Parents giving up their life for their children's is, well, one of the oldest tropes. Not quite the same thing here, but the sentiment..."

Taliesen considered for a moment, feeling the magic in his fingertips. Yes, this would work.

"that sounds like it would be fine. I'll take your status as a half-Reaper, and all the good you could do with those abilities. And in return, your daughter's health problems will fade until they are no longer an issue. Not all at once, so she won't immediately notice, as you want yes?"

Taliesen wanted Angelo to confirm verbally that this was the deal they were making. He sat quietly, inspecting his hand as if it held some answer invisible to all but him.

Taliesen let his fangs show abit more through his smile and he reached out his hand towards Angelo.

"Nothing so formal, but maybe just as dramatic. We simply..." cold, blue-green flames sprang to life around Taliesen's hand as he finished his sentence. "...shake on it."

Angelo took his hand and the flames danced across their combined grip for a moment. When they broke contact, things were... different for the officer. He would feel the change immediately, and Taliesen played with the flames in his hand briefly before closing his fist and snuffing them out. Sending his payment down to Facade for processing.

"And that's it. Do you have any further questions?"